Remarks by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Willies Mchunu during the official opening of the Dr. Chota Motala Interchange, Pietermaritzburg
Programme Director;
Honourable Dipuo Peters, the Minister of Transport;
His Worship Cllr. Yusuf Bhamjee , the Mayor of Umgungundlovu;
His Worship Cllr. Chris Ndlela, the Mayor of the City of Umsunduzi;
Mr Nazir Alli, the CEO of SANRAL;Professor Shireen Motala;
Officials of Government present;
Stakeholders in the Transport industry;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;
On behalf of Premier Senzo Mchunu, the Government and citizens of KwaZulu-Natal, I take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL) for the decisive and timely intervention they have made upgrading the Dr. Chota Motala Interchange.
The construction of this interchange demonstrates the best that can come out when all the three spheres of government - national, provincial and local – work together.
We say this is a timely intervention because the City of Pietermaritzburg is both a centre of government but also a strategic economic hub in the province.
More than 75 percent of South Africa’s imports and exports move through KwaZulu-Natal – to and from our two ports in Durban and Richards Bay. The N3 – which Dr. Chota Motala Interchange is - is the busiest economic corridor.
All of these economy-critical factors have continuously increased traffic and necessitated for this upgrade. As a province, we appreciate that one of the underlying objectives behind this project has been to maximise local job opportunities and the development of emerging, mainly Black enterprises.
I am informed that more than 130 local employment opportunities were created and in excess of 30 black emerging construction companies were contracted during construction. All of this illustrates to us – that indeed – just to echo President Jacob Zuma: South Africa is today a much better place to live and indeed we have a good story to tell.
Allow me to also, on behalf of the government and the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal, take this opportunity to convey our sincere appreciation to the family of Dr. Mahomed Moosa “Chota” Motala. They have remained loyal to the national democratic revolution. We thank them for their immeasurable contribution – similar to sacrifices of many others families and unsung heroes and heroines – that freed South Africa.
South Africa is moving forward because of people such as Dr. Motala who embraced the vision of a nation that is democratic, united, non-racial, non-sexist, equal and prosperous.
We know that he was part of the Natal Midlands Committee of the Congress of the People, which mobilised the people culminated in our legacy blueprint, the Freedom Charter.
During the preparations of the real and original Congress of the People, Motala’s house was used regularly for meetings by the leadership of the African National Congress, including Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, with whom he became friends.
Motala also knew Inkosi Albert Luthuli and referred to him as a “very important mentor”. In June 1955, Motala spoke on behalf of Luthuli, who was banned from the farewell function for the Durban delegates going to Kliptown for the Congress of the People.
Our ultimate objective, ladies and gentlemen, as we move South Africa forward is to achieve a truly integrated, regulated, reliable, accessible and affordable transportation system. The coming to life of this interchange takes us forward – towards achieving our goal – and thereby uplift the socio-economic conditions of our people.
I thank you.
Province
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